Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-09
GIVE Us 4 REST.
A Diversity of opinion in Regard to
the Grand Jury system.

Editor ARGUS:
Rock ISLAND, Feb. 9.-Brishj
and early with the beginning OF
the new wear the Union began feti.HE
an inutfenSive ami uGSuSpeCtiHg public
with illusions to wonderful law rttnrG
measures that were being originated Ia
Rock Island. 1t knew that tue public
was fairly starving for something Of the
kind, and so very CONSIDERABLY prepared
our weak stomachs bv small dsly
notices. comments. etc, for the grand
feast that was served up to us week
ago last Sunday in the shape Of BRAID
new copy rightcd all rights reserved, "
Crawford, Parmenter. Burdctt, Grand
Jury Reform bill
For whole week we had heard maths
ing about this wonderful pauacsa for
public wrongs, until late issue. when
To- it breaks ont again with new add or
notice Permit US TO inform Crawford
Parmenter It Burdelt unieEtakers of
law reform. and the public, that this
proposed 7t,- reform is rs Old as the hills
As long as we can remember back, there
has been periodically introduced into cur
legislature, bills 10 0bliterale gr4nl
iuries.
The last bill that We remember was in
troduced nv Mr. O'Mara in 1883, referred
to the Judiciary committee, By it reported
favorably, AMI then got lost somcw here
in the wilderness of legislation. see house
bill No 112, introduced Jan. 81. 1883,
entitled "A bill for an act TO abolish
grand juries and 10 regulate the practice
in criminal cases upon information" \
printed copy of Mr. O'Mara's bill was
furnished. as We are informed, to Mr
ParmeDter and most OF the attorneys Of
this state: was discussed at length b. the
Chicago newspapers, particularly the
Chicago Times The writer hereof has u
copy of that bill before him, and has
compared it with the hiii''-t0 quote the
Unions language-'Jransd hy eX-State's
Attorney Parmenter. and we find that
this bill, ''fr5med." etc, and published IN
the Union. is copy. word fol word, letter
for letter and even comma for comma of
Mr. O'Maras bill Whose hlll Mr.
OMara's is copy Of if it i copy. we
do not know We do know that this Law
has been in operation for gears in Wis
consln, and is well known to the legal
profession.
We err when We say that the b.ii
framed ~ by Mr. Parmentcr is an oxac;
copy of Mr. ONaras There is one
word added in the first section. the word
record" The word also is added in
the second section; and the entirely I'M
necessary words. las now provided b.
law" are interpoatcd in one OF two other
sections.
So much for the originality and novelty
of this much vauDted measure As it
will doubtless be referred to the judiciary
committee, and there sleep the sleep that
knows no awakening, we will defer dis
cussiDg its merits or dement's further
than TO say, that the good uame aud lib
critics of the people may be more safely
entrusted into the keeping of body of
the people, such as the grand jury is,
than into the hands of single scheming.
place hunting politician, such as FIRE
1uently fills the states attorneys Office,
One word more: Don't steal other PEG
pies thunder. II Messrs. Crawford. Par,
menter & Burdett, law reformers, etc.
choose to start into business upon bor>
rowed capital, / C., the ideas and work of
other people, no one will blame them. 1t
is permissible in this world to borrow
that which you have not; but let them be
honest with their creditors-the public
Finally, don't cackle so loud and so much
until you have laid your egg. Wait until
your bill passes. An IMPARTIAL One.